Standard Labor Certification Recruitment Steps

The employer is required to conduct recruitment before a labor certification application can be filed on behalf of an international worker. The standard labor certification procedure is used for all jobs except those for college and university teachers that require classroom teaching (refer to the information on special procedures for college and university teachers). Specific recruitment instructions have been established under the standard procedure:

• A job order must be placed with the State Workforce Agency (Mississippi Department of Employment Security) for a period of 30 days.
• The employer must place an advertisement informing the public of the job opportunity (the job the international worker currently occupies) in two Sunday editions of the local newspaper (Clarion-Ledger). The advertisements must be published at least 30 days, but not more than 180 days, before the labor certification application is filed. The advertisement must contain the following information:
  • Name of employer.
  • The name and address of the individual designated to receive resumes from applicant
  • A description of the job vacancy sufficient to apprise U.S. workers of the job opportunity involved. If job requirements or duties are included, they cannot exceed the requirements that will be included on the labor certification application.
  • Indicate the geographic location of the employment such that applicants will be aware of any travel requirements and where they will have to reside
• The employer must conduct three additional types of recruitment from the following list of options (the most feasible options for UMMC labor certification cases are marked with an asterisk *) :
  • Job fairs - If the employer participates in job fairs and the job opening associated with the labor certification is included in the jobs announced at the job fair, documentation from brochures advertising the fair can be used.
  • Employer's website* - The job opening can be posted on the website where all of the employer's other vacancies are posted. If the sponsoring department has its own website, that is another option for posting.
  • External job search website* - Sites such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder are examples.
  • On-campus recruitment - This option is only feasible if the employer routinely travels to various campuses for the purpose of interviewing for job openings. A brochure documenting the date, place and time of the interview would be required.
  • Trade or professional organizations* - The job opening can be advertised in a newsletter or professional journal directly related to the occupation.
  • Private employment firms
  • Employee referral program with incentives
  • Campus placement office* - Letters announcing the job opening can be sent to Career Services Offices or Campus Placement Offices at other institutions.
  • Local and ethnic newspapers - The job opening can be advertised in other local newspapers if the circulation is sufficient and the papers routinely publish notices for jobs that are comparable to the job associated with the labor certification.
  • Radio and TV advertisements